Discover, Plan & Go!

The newly refurbished Motor Yachts Coral I and Coral II marry comfort, style, speed and space, the perfect combination for cruising the Galapagos Isalnds. This cruise combines the versatility and intimacy of a small yacht with the comfort and luxury of a small ship.

Located 600 miles off the coast of Ecuador is an ecosystem among the most unique and prolific in the world: the Galapagos Islands. It was here, in 1853, that Charles Darwin caught the first glimmer of his earth-shaking theory of evolution. We'll follow in his footsteps, with unparalleled opportunities for observation and photography. Walk and snorkel among the island's famed and protected inhabitants - The giant tortoise, iguana, sea lions, boobie birds, penguin, finches, flamingo and more.

Our Galapagos cruises combine the finest small ships with the most talented naturalist guides and offer a range of activities designed to bring you into intimate contact with the unique creatures and ecosystems of the Galapagos. Spend more time ashore hiking among nesting frigate birds or albatross, more time snorkeling with sea lions, or perhaps just relaxing on a crescent beach. Our cruises begin and end in colonial Quito, Ecuador and include Quito hotel accommodations, airport/hotel transfers, round trip flights from mainland Ecuador to the Galapagos Islands and a half day tour of the Quito's old town, a UNESCO designated World Heritage Site. Join us and see why, quite simply, our small ship and yacht cruises to the Galapagos Islands are the vacation of a lifetime!

Day 1 - Friday - Arrive Quito Ecuador

Upon arrival at the Quito, Ecuador international airport you are met by our local representative and transferred to your hotel.

Accommodations: Hotel Patio Andaluz or similar

Included Meals: na

Day 2 - Saturday - Colonial Quito

South America's oldest capitol city, Quito sits at 9,184-feet elevation. It has been amazingly preserved and is protected as a UNESCO world heritage site. Enjoy a three hour guided walking tour of Quito's colonial center including Independence Plaza, La Compania Church and San Francisco Cathedral. The remainder of the day is yours to enjoy this lively city, rest or prepare for your Galapagos Cruise.

Accommodations: Hotel Patio Andaluz or similar

Included Meals: breakfast

Day 3 - Sunday - Fly to Galapagos: Baltra Island/Santa Cruz Highlands

You will have a morning flight arrival to Baltra Island flight and immediate transfer to the dock to board the Coral I. Welcome introductory briefing and lunch. Afternoon in the highlands, visiting the Scalesia forest and the twin pit craters Los Gemelos. From December to mid-April a visit to see the giant tortoises in the wild may be included, if weather conditions are good. Welcome Cocktail offered by the Captain. Naturalist's briefing on the next day's activities and dinner.

Accommodations: Coral I or Coral II

Included Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 4 - Monday - Hood (Espanola): Gardner Bay, Punta Suarez

After breakfast, disembark (wet landing) at a white coral beach where you can take a short walk and watch the sea lions, mockingbirds, finches or enjoy the beach.. There is great snorkeling in this area (snorkeling equipment is available for passengers at no extra cost), or ride the glass-bottom boat around Gardner or Tortuga islets. Afternoon dry landing for an exciting walk on lava terrain to visit its unique sea bird colonies, including the Waved Albatrosses (May - December) and the famous blowhole. A shorter walk is also available. For those not planning to walk there will be panga (dinghy) ride along the coastline of Punta Sureez. Naturalist's briefing with dinner.

Accommodations: Coral I or Coral II

Included Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 5 - Tuesday - Floreana: Point Cormorant, Post Office Bay

After breakfast, disembark at Point Cormorant (wet landing) for an easy walk to see the flamingos that inhabit a brackish-water lagoon, and other birds like ducks, stilts, sandpipers, etc. There is great snorkeling from the beach or near by, at the Devil's Crown. Those who do not snorkel can enjoy a ride on the glass-bottom boat. Lunch on board. You will have a wet landing at the historical Post Office Bay to learn about the human side of the islands, its early inhabitants and the adventures of pirates and whalers. Then, a panga ride will take you to nearby islets to observe sea lions, rays and sea turtles, boobies and possibly the Galapagos penguin. Naturalist's briefing with dinner.

Accommodations: Coral I or Coral II

Included Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 6 - Wednesday - North Seymour / Baltra / Santa Cruz

Make a dry landing for a walk along the coast and the interior of North Seymour island, observing bird colonies of blue footed boobies, magnificent frigatebirds, swallow tailed gulls and also sea lions and marine iguanas. Pick up any additional passengers in Baltra. In the afternoon visit Dragon Hill on Santa Cruz. Hike in search of Galapagos "dragons" or land iguanas. In Zodiacs investigate mangrove-flanked channels searching for sea lions, a variety of birds, sea turtles, sharks and rays.

Passengers on 3 or 4 night cruises (7 or 8 day packages) disembark or embark at this time.

Accommodations: Coral I or Coral II

Included Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 7 - Thursday - Rabida / James (Santiago): Puerto Egas

Rabida is a small island just over 2 kms in width and 400 meters at its highest point, located to the south of Santiago Island. Rabida is known for its unusual red colored beaches. The vegetation consists mainly of Opuntia Cactus, Palo Santo tress and scrubby bushes. Upon your wet landing you will probably see various sea lions and after a short hike you will reach the lagoon to see Flamingos and Pelicans.

In the afternoon visit Puerto Egas on James Island. You will have a wet landing for a mid-length walk. Most of the landscape is tuff-stone layers and lava flows. This is a great opportunity to see land and marine birds. At low tide, marine iguanas graze upon the algae beds and there is a colony of fur-sea lions. Good snorkeling and swimming from the beach after the walk.

Accommodations: Coral I or Coral II

Included Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 8 - Friday - Fernandina: Punta Espinoza / Isabela: Vicente Roca

The morning brings us to the youngest island, Fernandina. Disembark (dry landing) for a one-mile walk. Punta Espinoza has an amazing combination of barrenness with lots of wildlife. Having no introduced mammals, Fernandina has a very unique environment with the highest density of marine iguanas, sharing their space with sea lions, sally-light foot crabs, hawks, penguins and the flightless cormorant.

After lunch arrive at Isabela, the largest of the Galapagos Islands, looks a bit like a sea horse facing toward the west. Located at the 'mouth' of the sea horse, which forms the northern part of the islands, is Punta Vicente Roca, Here the remnants of an ancient volcano form two turquoise coves with a bay, well protected from the ocean swells. Take a panga ride along the cliff formed by a remnant volcano or explore a partially sunken cave at the water's edge. Masked and blue-footed boobies sit perched along the point and the sheer cliffs, while flightless cormorants inhabit the shoreline. The upwelling of coldwater currents in this part of the Galapagos, gives rise to an abundance of marine life. One cove is only accessible from the sea by way of an underwater passage. The passage opens to calm waters of the hidden cove where sea lions like to laze on the beach after traveling along the underwater route. The entire area of Punta Vicente Roca lies on the flank of 2,600 foot Volcano Ecuador. Half of Volcano Ecuador slid into the ocean, leaving a spectacular cutaway view of the volcanic caldera.

Accommodations: Coral I or Coral II

Included Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 9 - Saturday - Bartolome / Santa Cruz: Black Turtle Cove

Disembark at Bartolome Island (dry landing) for a hike to the summit. This is a steep climb aided by a wooden staircase; the view from the top is worth the effort. There will be time for a panga ride around Pinnacle Rock to observe penguins, to enjoy the beach (wet landing), snorkeling and swimming from the beach. Black Turtle Cove is a great place to see large schools of Golden Rays, Green Sea Turtles (they are on the rare and endangered species list), White-tipped Sharks, Galapagos Sharks, Lava Herons, Yellow Warblers and a variety of other bird species.

Accommodations: Coral I or Coral II

Included Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 10 - Sunday - Santa Cruz: Darwin Station/Baltra to Quito

After breakfast, disembark (dry landing) to visit the Charles Darwin Research Station and the giant tortoise pens, an impressive giant prickly-pear cactus forest and many land birds. Then enjoy a stroll along the main street of Puerto Ayora. Sail into Baltra and transfer by bus to the airport for the flight back to the mainland, arriving around 5:30pm. Transfer to your hotel.

Accommodations: Hotel Patio Andaluz or similar

Included Meals: breakfast

Day 11 - Monday - Depart Quito

Transportation will be provided to the airport for return flights home or for excursions to Ecuador's Mainland or Peru's Machu Picchu.

Accommodations: n/a

Included Meals: breakfast

7 Day Itinerary:

Day 1 - Friday - Arrive Quito

Day 2 - Saturday - Colonial Quito

Day 3 - Sunday - Quito to Baltra, Galapagos Islands/Santa Cruz

Day 4 - Monday - Hood (Espanola): Gardner Bay, Punta Suarez

Day 5 - Tuesday - Floreana: Point Cormorant, Post Office Bay

Day 6 - Wednesday - North Seymour / Baltra / return to Quito

Day 7 - Thuraday - Depart

8 Day Itinerary:

Day 1 - Monday - Arrive Quito

Day 2 - Tuesday - Colonial Quito

Day 3 - Wednesday - Quito to Baltra / Santa Cruz

Day 4 - Thursday - Rabida / James (Santiago): Puerto Egas

Day 5 - Friday - Fernandina: Punta Espinoza / Isabela: Vicente Roca

Day 6 - Saturday - Bartolome / Santa Cruz: Black Turtle Cove

Day 7 - Sunday - Santa Cruz: Darwin Station/Baltra to Quito

Day 8 - Monday - Depart Quito

Notes on Itinerary: We may occasionally alter itineraries slightly for safety, or to take advantage of weather, wildlife, and unplanned discoveries. Our ability to be flexible makes our style of cruising unique.

Single Travelers: The Coral I offer’s single occupancy at an 80% supplement. With our Roommate Share program, if you are traveling alone and wish to share accommodations, we will guarantee double occupancy rates for boat cabins even if we are unable to match you with a roommate.

Land Cost Includes: Three nights Quito hotel accommodations with breakfast included, all airport/ hotel transfers, Galapagos flight, Galapagos National Park entrance fees and taxes, Galapagos cruise including all meals while aboard and an experienced Galapagos Islands naturalist guide.

Not Included: Airfare from US to Quito; excess baggage charges; airport departure tax from Quito; tips to local staff and items of a personal nature such as soft drinks or alcoholic beverages, laundry fees and insurance of any kind.

Arrival and Departure: This trip begins and ends in Quito, Ecuador. Plan flights to arrive at any time on Day 1 and depart anytime on the last day. Airport transfers are included for travelers arriving and departing on scheduled arrival/departure days. This trip can also be arranged to begin and end in Guayaquil, Ecuador.

Payment and Cancellation Policy: A special cancellation policy applies to all Galapagos trips, which is stricter than the AdventureSmith Explorations policy. When a trip cancellation is received inside of 70 days from departure, all trip costs are 100% non-refundable. Please see AdventureSmith Explorations Terms and Conditions. We highly recommend our travelers protect their investment with

Accommodations Aboard: The Coral I is a deluxe mega yacht that accommodates 36 guests, has comfortable, well-appointed cabins and many on-board amenities. The crew is comprised of the captain, multilingual naturalist guides, barman/waiter, cook, engineer and deckhands. All meals are prepared and served by the crew on board. Alcoholic beverages are available for purchase on board.

Qualifications: This trip will be enjoyed by anyone who is in good health and leads an active life. Daily excursions from the boat to the islands will be made in pangas (dinghies). Trip members will hike from the landing point to specific areas for wildlife observation. Hiking time for most landings will be a couple of hours roundtrip with lots of time to stop to study, photograph and enjoy the flora and fauna. Some landings are dry but many are "wet", requiring cautious footing on slippery rocks. The boat staff will be on hand to assist. There are numerous opportunities to swim and snorkel. Easy-to-use, sit-on-top kayaks are also available.

Extending Your Trip: Call AdventureSmith Explorations about the possibilities of combining this trip with our Mainland Ecuador and Peru: Machu Picchu extensions.

General Information: This trip is subject to AdventureSmith Explorations Terms and Conditions. Please read this information carefully and call us if you have any questions. A packing list, extensive pre-departure and travel insurance information is sent upon confirmation. We strongly recommend the purchase of Trip Insurance through AdventureSmith Explorations. If purchased within 14 days of sign-up, the pre-existing condition exclusion is waived.

We look forward to having you join us for the trip of a lifetime! Call today.